Some tomato diseases, such as early blight, overwinter in the soil so it is best to dispose of the plants. See this fact sheet: Tomato Problems. Home composts typically don't heat to high-enough temperatures uniformly throughout the plant material to destroy disease organisms, weed seeds, and the rest, so we recommend against disposing of infested tomato tissue in a compost. Obviously, if you manage your compost pile (turn frequently and maintain moisture levels and carbon/nitrogen ratio), the compost should heat up to 140 degree F and the risk of disease transfer will be significantly reduced.
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Is it true that it is not a good idea to compost tomato plants at the end of the growing season?
Last Updated: October 31, 2011
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